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Lamia del Riccio: A Classic Italian Countryside Retreat, Reimagined

An oasis of calm and style perfectly in sync with the surrounding nature, Lamia del Riccio is a stellar example of traditional dwelling renovation done right. Nestled in the Apulian countryside, near Ostuni, this family-run holiday home combines vernacular architecture with a modern Mediterranean flair, courtesy of Italian designer Gian Paolo Guerra. The property revolves around a newly built limestone lamia (typical to the area), but the master bedroom suite is housed in an original Saracen trullo.

The same refined mix of old and new flows throughout the interiors, which are masterfully crafted in a restrained color palette, with both contemporary and vintage decor pieces, as well as an abundance of natural materials.

The villa’s outdoor areas are equally well designed so guests can disconnect from the world outside and experience the real Italian way of life in all its glory - think alfresco meals with friends and family, aperitivi by the pool, and lots of dolce far niente moments to fill your day.

A Bangkok Coffee Shop for Design Lovers

The last few years have been all about drinking coffee in inspiring surroundings, and that’s exactly what Kaizen - a beautifully designed cafe in Bangkok’s hipster-loving Ekamai - stands for.

Housed in a sleek glass-walled structure, the double-height space is modern but welcoming, with neat light oak furnishings and smart lighting throughout. While the neutral color palette sets a calm tone, an offbeat mix of textures adds the right urban attitude to the ensemble. Envisioned by local design studio space+craft, the interior is a rhapsody of warm wood, cool metal, rough brick, and just a little bit of gloss.

Cool aesthetics aside, their coffee is a real highlight, with intriguing specialty blends and single-origin roasts for every taste. The coffee shop also serves a variety of healthy meals, from vibrant acai bowls to freshly made egg sandwiches.

Photos: Ketsiree Wongwan

A Modernist Jungle Hideaway Awaits Outside Tulum

Mexico is in the midst of an architectural revolution, and this whimsical retreat outside Tulum is very much part of it. Immersed in the jungles of the Unesco-protected Sian Ka’an Biosphere, this villa is a masterclass in green luxury - sustainably designed, expertly staffed, and blissfully embedded in nature.

A brainchild of Mexico City-based architectural studio Productora, Casa Bautista combines heavy blue-hued concrete with lightweight timber pergolas in rich cognac creating a novel, unique design aesthetic. Fluid living spaces seamlessly merge the outdoors in, and there’s a delicate tropical vibe that permeates the place, balancing the striking Brutalist accents. Large open-air patios and terraces grace the modernist rooms and a rooftop pool glistens invitingly atop the jungle canopy, offering calming views of the Caribbean Sea.

Made in Bali: Escape Reality at an Open-Air Bamboo Dome in the Jungle

Otherworldly bamboo architecture, epic rice-field views, and your own natural plunge pool…Moon House promises an unforgettable eco-chic escape from it all.

The most romantic of Bambu Indah’s dreamy, stand-alone rooms, this open-air dome tucked into the jungles outside Ubud opens up to the luscious landscape for a fully immersive experience. Add suspended bridges, a massive canopy bed, and a secluded copper tub for moonlight bathing, and what you’ve got is a true love nest.

A Quaint A-Frame Cabin in the Cascades

Who doesn’t love an A-frame cabin in the woods? Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, only an hour and a half east of Seattle, and surrounded by some of the best hikes in the Pacific Northwest, Sky Haus is the perfect place to escape from everyday life.

With a spacious retro-fitted living room, lofted beds, floor-to-ceiling windows, wood-paneled walls, and a fully equipped kitchen, this cozy Airbnb has it all. There’s even a fireplace, and an outdoor hot tub to fulfill all your cabin fantasies.

Unwind in True Cycladic Fashion at Oia’s Andronis Arcadia Hotel

Santorini is an island where hotels compete for views of mesmerizing seascapes and sunsets, and Andronis Arcadia delivers them in spades. But that’s not all that draws in vacationers - the stylish all-suite hotel on the edge of Oia is replete with amenities and looks like it came out of the pages of a decor magazine.

A classy, contemporary take on the traditional Cycladic style, the architecture is an ensemble of white cubic volumes interspersed with dreamy turquoise pools and magnificent outdoor terraces. The interiors are earthy, polished, and minimal, with light oak furnishings and inspired craft details placed against an abundance of smooth white and beige surfaces.

Photos: Yiorgos Kordakis

For a Scenic All-Encompassing Stay in Mallorca, Head to Blau PortoPetro Beach Resort & Spa

Set in extensive manicured grounds along Mallorca’s lesser developed south east shore, this sleek, sprawling hotel balances blissful relaxation with endless adventures, all while delivering some of the best coastal views in this part of the island.

From welcoming double rooms to romantic sea-view suites to exclusive butler-served villas with private pool, there’s an accommodation option for every taste and need at Blau PortoPetro Beach Resort & Spa - all bathed in glowing Mediterranean sunlight and contemporary comfort.

The pretty fishing village of Portopetro is only a short walk away and the setting couldn’t be more perfect, but it’s the hotel’s never-ending list of amenities and experiences that ends up being its biggest draw.

Guests can play golf, swim in a secluded cove, partake in a plethora of water sports, or relax with an ayurvedic treatment in the remarkable spa. Throw in 3 sparkling blue pools and 7 tennis courts, direct access to an idyllic beach, and a wide choice of restaurants serving everything from gourmet Japanese cuisine to Mediterranean delights and you have all the makings of a fabulous Mediterranean vacation.

Santorini’s Vora Private Villas Is a Dreamy Refuge with Design Credentials

Built by hand over a period of four years, Vora Private Villas is a splendid Santorini hotel fusing minimalistic Cycladic design with vernacular architecture high above the majestic Aegean Sea.

Carved into the island’s legendary caves and cliffs, the unique private villas making up the property are all dressed in soothing neutrals and natural materials, with black volcanic rock accents and sophisticated custom-made furnishings worthy of the pages of a design magazine.

Completing the picture are private plunge pools and panoramic verandas for basking in the sun, feasting alfresco, and contemplating the surreal scenery.